Match preview Vs Exeter City FA Trophy 2nd Rd

Date: 13-01-07
Venue: St James Park
Kick off: 15:00hrs

The Harriers continue on from last week by taking their Cup form down to Devon for a tasty clash with Exeter City in the 2nd round of the FA Trophy. This is going to be a tougher task than last Saturdays annihilation of Vauxhall Motors, a 4-0 scoreline in that game thanks to a James Constable hat trick.

It was Constables performance in that game that has now alerted the club to the fact that his parent club, Walsall, will probably keep him at the Bescot once his loan expires on the 23rd of this month. It has also drawn the attention of other clubs who will be waiting for the possible news of his release at the end of the season, or even before the end of this month if Walsall decide to let him go.

With his strike partner Iyseden Christie back for this game then Constable will be hoping for another couple of goals to add to his CV.

We could possibly be without Gavin Hurren for this game after he limped off just after half time at Vauxhall with a hamstring injury. Michael Blackwood is just recovering from the same injury and the Harriers manager, Mark Yates, will decide wether it would be worth risking them or not.

City disposed of Heybridge Swifts in the first round and had a free weekend last week due to their game against Aldershot being postponed because of the Shots involvement in the FA Cup. At the same time they had a flu bug going around the team and they'll be hoping that the virus has been cleared up by now.

They have no injuries but will be without Matthew Gill while he serves a one match ban.

The last time we played Exeter we came back with a well earned 1-1 draw, a game famous for the dismissal of Reuben Reid. I can see this game ending up as another draw, but with our improved form since that game back in November, it could be another win for us.

In other Harriers news we have signed Daniel McGhee from Hednesford on a non contract basis, it's unlikely that he'll play at Exeter tomorrow and we have had to say goodbye to two players this week. Rob Davies went back to West Brom earlier in the week and yesterday we finally released Jamie McClen.

He has spent the last two months on loan at Bedlington and now his loan spell has ended there we have also taken the opportunity to release him. Bedlington are expected to be signing him permanently this week but there is also interest in his signature from Scottish club Hamilton Academicals.